Doubles point clinches Blue Raider victory over No. 71 Georgia State

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee’s battle with No. 71 Georgia State came down to the final doubles match, and Marlon Brand and Yannick Born delivered an 8-5 victory to clinch the 4-3 win for the Blue Raiders in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Shootout on Sunday morning at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. MT earned claimed three matches in singles action, including Ben Davis’ gutsy three-set performance after suffering an injury in the second set.

“Ben Davis showed me one of the most impressive matches I’ve ever seen in college tennis,” head coach Jimmy Borendame said. “His nose was broken at the end of the second set, but he managed to overcome it and play through the pain to force the doubles point. I was also very impressed with Yannick Born and Marlon Brand to come through in the No. 1 doubles after doubles was tied one apiece. It was one of the most memorable matches in college tennis for myself during my career. Really proud of the Blue Raiders today.”

Matthew Langley tallied the first point for MT (10-6) with a 6-4, 6-1 win, but the Panthers pulled even with a win in the two-slot. Another victory in the four-hole gave GSU a 2-1 advantage, but Ettore Zito tied the match up again with his 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 triumph. Davis’ victory in the No. 1 spot gave the Blue Raiders an edge, but the final singles match ended in favor of the Panthers to force doubles action.

Davis and Lang teamed up for a dominating 8-0 win in the No. 2 slot, but the No. 3 doubles went to Georgia State, leaving the match in the hands of Brand and Born. The two pulled away in the end hand MT its fifth win in the last six matches.

The Blue Raiders advanced to face No. 57 South Alabama in the tournament’s championship. The match is currently underway and a recap will be available following the match on GoBlueRaiders.com.

Middle Tennessee 4, #71 Georgia State 3
Singles competition
1. Ben Davis (MT) def. Matias Hatem (GSU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
2. Victor Valente (GSU) def. Christoph Lang (MT) 6-3, 7-5
3. Matthew Langley (MT) def. Thomas Cook (GSU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Ettore Zito (MT) def. Sofiane Chevallier (GSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
5. Juan Pablo Gutierrez (GSU) def. Forrest Edwards (MT) 6-4, 6-2
6. Ismael Lahlou (GSU) def. Dimitri Pippos (MT) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Marlon Brand/Yannick Born (MT) def. Matias Hatem/Thomas Cook (GSU) 8-5
2. Ben Davis/Christoph Lang (MT) def. Sofiane Chevallier/Ismael Lahlou (GSU) 8-0
3. Juan Pablo Gutierrez/Victor Valente (GSU) def. Matthew Langley/Ettore Zito (MT) 8-3

Match Notes
Georgia State 16-4; National ranking #71
Middle Tennessee 10-6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,2,5,4,1,6)

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